I Googled the crap out of it, and as near as I can tell it’s nothing more than deep massage wine in a fancy woo bottle. Descriptions of the procedure talk about aligning this, and freeing up that, so that you feel and function like a younger, healthier you. But the actual process itself…what is going on? When you check in to your friendly neighborhood Rolfer’s office, what will you experience objectively? Is this a deep, probably uncomfortably deep, forceful massage? Some mystical pressing of fascia-releasing buttons you never knew you had (akin to the fabled “off switches” exploited by ancient Far-Eastern assassins)?
A friend of mine had this done a number of years ago, and told me that it amounted to pulling your muscles, tendons and ligaments off of your bones.
I didn’t understand it then, and I don’t understand it now. It is extremely uncomfortable and the results aren’t that dramatic.
I call it extreme deep massage that doesn’t feel good during or after, so what’s the point?
I had about ten sessions, one a week, years ago. It was basically a long really high pressure massage, kind of like running muscles through squeeze rollers. It was helpful, but was not a permanent solution to my hypotonia (spasm or muscle amnesia). After trying various methods including Rolfing, traditional PT, and yoga, I’m thinking it’s probably more effective to use techniques that teach you about using your body effectively (Feldenkrais, Alexander, Laban, etc) than ones that try to “correct issues” - which often amount to resistance that just exacerbates the root causes. Work smart, not hard.
I was certain this was going to be about the piano playing dog on the Muppet show.
“Billy Clyde, you’re gonna get Pelfed.”
“Not this Billy Clyde Puckett.”
My cat rolfs if she eats too fast.
I watched a friend get rolfed many years ago. Imagine getting fisted. Through your armpit. Remember those Philipino “healers” who could supposedly stick their hand into someone’s abdomen and pull out some amorphous giblets? Rolfing is exactly like that, but without the goo.
Woo, all the way.
I can only add that I once worked on an insurance program for massage therapists, and Rolfers had significantly higher liability rates than other therapists, indicating a greater likelihood of injuring their patients. However I have no knowledge as to the effectiveness of the procedure.
Named after Ida P. Rolf.
Fascinating that a clinical medical scientist would develop a system without putting it through rigorous quantifiable analysis. Someone who wants to call himself a homeopath or chiropracter, maybe. But she was trained as a lab scientist.
I had the 10 sessions done when Rolfing first rolled out back in the 70s (1970s not 1870s). The Rolfer first images your entire spine, and then at the end to show how your spine has straightened. It is quite painful unless you completely relax. Something that painful must be good for you. 
It’s better than regular messages, but more expensive. However, I had the entire 10 sessions for a total of $100, as the Rolfer was new and was eager to build a clientele.
I wish I could get my legs Rolfed. I have chronically tense calves caused by the deep muscle just behind the tibia (the tibialis posterior). I can’t access them except for the tendon attachments at the ends, and BOY are those sore.